Power amplifiers stereo — Emotiva XPA-11 Gen3

Emotiva builds the XPA-11 Gen3 as an eleven-channel amp, and the Franklin, Tennessee company designs, assembles and tests its XPA amplifiers in the USA. The maker aims it at a complete 7.1.4 or 9.1.2 Dolby Atmos or DTS:X system, so one chassis can drive every speaker in the layout. Emotiva lists it at USD 2,949.

Key specs that matter

The eleven channels come from two kinds of module. Three High-Powered Single Channel Modules serve the front left, centre and right, each rated at 300 W RMS into 8 ohm and 550 W into 4 ohm with one channel driven, or 490 W into 4 ohm with two driven. With all three mono channels working, the figure is 200 W each into 8 ohm. Four Stereo Modules supply the other eight channels at 65 W into 8 ohm and 100 W into 4 ohm, with 65 W per channel quoted when all four stereo modules run together. For the mono modules, broadband response reaches from 5 Hz to 80 kHz (+0/-2 dB), THD+N stays below 0.005% at 100 W, signal to noise tops 115 dB against rated power and damping factor exceeds 500. The stereo modules need 0.8 V for full output against 1.71 V for the mono ones, and gain is 29 dB across the board.

Engineering and use context

Every channel uses a discrete Class A/B module of dual differential, high current design with a short signal path. Supply comes from a switch-mode power supply working with Emotiva's Optimized Soft-Switch Class H topology, and a microprocessor watches for faults such as overheating, shorted speaker leads and ground faults. Maximum draw is 2,600 W, a value Emotiva says applies only to continuous test tones on all channels into a load bank. Because the chassis is modular, modules can be added or swapped later. The heavy steel 4RU case has a milled aluminium faceplate and measures about 432 x 203 x 483 mm with feet, while its unboxed weight is about 24 kg. Mains input is detected automatically between 100 and 250 VAC, and a push-button breaker on the rear guards against line faults. The warranty runs five years.

Pairing

Each channel can take XLR or RCA, chosen by a metal toggle, which suits an AV processor or a receiver with preamp outputs. Outputs are gold-plated five-way binding posts. A 5 to 12 V trigger input and a 12 VDC trigger output (up to 120 mA) link power-up with other gear, and the minimum recommended load is 4 ohm per channel.

Alternatives

For a system that needs fewer channels, the Emotiva XPA-7 Gen3 fills its seven slots entirely with the high-powered single channel modules.